Sunday, September 5, 2010

Dear God,

A few days ago I talked about riding the wave of trust in difficult times. This morning I took an unexpected journey as we sang our favorite songs before the formal worship service commenced. As we began singing Nearer My God to Thee, I recalled my days in Job's Daughters when I was a teenager. I had longed to be Honored Queen but instead I was like a chaplain and soloist. At the end of every meeting we formed a cross and everyone knelt but me as I stood and sang Nearer My God to Thee. How close I felt to you.

The next hymn number to be requested was #77 How Great Thou Art and that was when the journey started. As we sang out, the sanctuary filled with praise and I saw the song slip out the open front doors. It swung out to the right and gushed miles out into the choppy seas where the waters stilled and then to Pakistan to flood victims where your peace comforted and then swiftly like a waterfall it fell miles below the surface to hungry miners looking for hope. Suddenly I saw the song enter a crack house where addicts paused to listen and to homes where conflict was raging. Your song penetrated human hearts bringing calm. In my mind the song went in every direction taking with it grace and love.

Did it really happen? Did it make a difference? Did it touch souls in need of rescue? I can't say but why not?

Sing out
your message
of peace,
hope, mercy
and love,
Almighty God;
minister to
your people.
Let your song
be heard
'round the world
and to
every corner
of creation!
Teach us
to sing
your song
every day
so that
a waiting
struggling soul
may hear it,
I pray.

Love, Andrea